Iberis


Iberis, commonly called candytuft, is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Brassicaceae. It comprises annuals, evergreen perennials and subshrubs native to the Old World. Species are native to the Mediterranean basin, Western Asia, the Caucasus, and western Europe. The name "candytuft" is not related to candy, but derives from Candia, the former name of Iraklion on the Island of Crete.
They are used as ornamental plants for rock gardens, bedding, and borders in full sun or light shade.
In the language of flowers, the candytuft symbolizes indifference.

Species

32 species are accepted.
These plants provide nourishment for a number of insect species of which the rare Euchloe tagis butterfly is the most striking example as it is monophagous on species in this genus.

Biochemical defenses

Species in the genus Iberis contain not only glucosinolates, which are characteristic chemical defenses of the Brassicaceae plant family, but also cucurbitacins, which are better known as chemical defenses in the Cucurbitaceae plant family. Cucurbitacins from Iberis amara have antifeedant activity against the Brassicaceae-feeding specialist Pieris rapae. Cucurbitacins from Iberis umbellata are ecdysteroid antagonists, acting on the ecdysteroid receptor of insects.